Opera Project Columbus to Present IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, Today

Opera Project Columbus presents Gioacchino Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) Friday, June 24 at 7:30pm and Sunday, June 26 at 3pm at the McCoy Center for the Arts in New Albany (100 W. Dublin Granville Rd., New Albany, OH 43054). The show will be fully staged, featuring the OPC Orchestra led by Maestro Alessandro Siciliani performing in the pit of the McCoy Center.

OPC celebrates the 200th Anniversary of Il Barbiere di Siviglia with this production at the McCoy. Rossini's legendary opera buffa in two acts, is based on the first of three plays by French playwright Pierre Beaumarchais that revolve around the clever and enterprising character named Figaro.

Maestro Siciliani's earliest memory of Il Barbiere di Siviglia was while growing up in the opera world of Italy at the country's most prominent opera company, La Scala. Since then he has logged more than 30 performances of Barbiere in Paris, Palermo, Pisa, Honolulu and Fargo. In the Fargo production, Siciliani's son Giacomo assisted with the preparation, conducted the chorus, and also sang in the production.

OPC's production will feature baritone Christian Bowers singing the role of Figaro. Mr. Bowers is an alumnus of the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts. He recently performed with Washington National Opera and Glimmerglass Opera. Returning from his recent performance as King Kaspar in OPC's production of Amahl and the Night Visitors is tenor Pedro Willis-Barbosa who will be singing the role of Il Conte d'Almaviva. Rosina will be sung by mezzo-soprano Megan Moore. Mezzo-soprano Carolyn Redman performs once again with OPC, this time singing the role of Berta. She most notably sang the role of Miss Todd in OPC's production of Old Maid and the Thief. Rounding out the cast are bass-baritone Jason Budd singing the role of Dottore Bartolo, baritone Brian Hupp singing the role of Fiorello/Officer and bass-baritone Adam Cioffari singing the role of Don Basilio. Cioffari also serves as OPC's Artistic Administrator.

Executive Director Zeke Rettman will stage direct, and Christopher R. Dent will be the chorus master. Il Barbiere di Siviglia finishes off the 5th season for OPC.

Tickets are $15-$45 and can be purchased soon through the CAPA box office and Ticketmaster. For more information on Opera Project Columbus, please visit our website at www.operaprojectcolumbus.org.